It was Christmas time. We had just gone, the whole family, to pick out the Christmas tree. We had searched the fields. My mother had found the perfect tree. A tree where there was only one bad side that we would put in the corner. My dad had taken the saw and cut through the thick trunk. The tree had been drug to the station wagon, tied to the roof with rope and a twenty dollar bill was given to the old guy who sold them.
As we came back into town my dad decided to take us out for dinner. Now going out to dinner was a very special treat for us, which alone could have made this meal very special. We got to go to my most favorite restaurant. Lil' Duffer. It was just a burger joint, but it was the best burger joint in all the world!
We placed our order. I ordered my typical Lil' Duffer cheese burger kids meal. Back then I think your only choice was burger or cheese burger. My dad went to pay for the meal, and he was just 11 cents short. Now at this point in my life, I already knew we didn't have much $. I remember a moment of panic that we couldn't afford the meal. What would we do. I really wanted that burger and fries. Then I remembered that earlier that day, I had found some change in the dirt in the back yard and had shoved it in my pocket. I hoped it was still there. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the shiny silver and bronze coin I collected earlier that day. It was just enough....
I remember gazing up to my dad with a huge smile and offering out my money to help pay for the meal. I remember the serious tone of my dad's voice... almost a relief himself when he saw that he would have enough to pay the cashier. I paid for my families meal with pride. I felt on top of the world. I had saved the day. I had made an ending to a perfect day. I even felt more pride because my dad made a big deal about it. That was the best day ever. Best meal ever. A tear still comes to my eye when I think about how special that moment was for me. Very few days in my life have I felt more important than that day.
I was very young and I'm sure I made a bigger deal out of it than it actually was, but never the less, the feeling was there. My dad probably had the $ in his wallet. He proabably was just looking for exact change. Maybe he knew I had the 11 cents and wanted to set me up for success. I will never know, but the memory is one very deep in my heart because I felt important. I felt special. I saved the day.
We placed our order. I ordered my typical Lil' Duffer cheese burger kids meal. Back then I think your only choice was burger or cheese burger. My dad went to pay for the meal, and he was just 11 cents short. Now at this point in my life, I already knew we didn't have much $. I remember a moment of panic that we couldn't afford the meal. What would we do. I really wanted that burger and fries. Then I remembered that earlier that day, I had found some change in the dirt in the back yard and had shoved it in my pocket. I hoped it was still there. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the shiny silver and bronze coin I collected earlier that day. It was just enough....
I remember gazing up to my dad with a huge smile and offering out my money to help pay for the meal. I remember the serious tone of my dad's voice... almost a relief himself when he saw that he would have enough to pay the cashier. I paid for my families meal with pride. I felt on top of the world. I had saved the day. I had made an ending to a perfect day. I even felt more pride because my dad made a big deal about it. That was the best day ever. Best meal ever. A tear still comes to my eye when I think about how special that moment was for me. Very few days in my life have I felt more important than that day.
I was very young and I'm sure I made a bigger deal out of it than it actually was, but never the less, the feeling was there. My dad probably had the $ in his wallet. He proabably was just looking for exact change. Maybe he knew I had the 11 cents and wanted to set me up for success. I will never know, but the memory is one very deep in my heart because I felt important. I felt special. I saved the day.
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